David P. Forsythe is Charles J. Mach Distinguished Professor, and University Professor at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He has published extensively on different aspects of International Relations including Human Rights in International Relations (Cambridge, 2000), which has been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Turkish, Korean, and Bulgarian, and most recently, Human Rights and Diversity: Area Studies Revisited (edited with Patrice McMahon, 2004). He is also the general editor of the new edition of The Encyclopedia of Human Rights.

• Preface; Introduction; Part I. Historical Analysis: 1. The ICRC during its early years; 2. The ICRC during the Cold War; 3. The ICRC after the Cold War; 4. The ICRC and the US 'war' on terrorism; Part II. Policy Analysis: 5. ICRC principles and policies; 6. ICRC structure and management; 7. The ICRC and international humanitarian law; Part III. Conclusion: 8. The ICRC and Red Cross humanitarianism; Annex A. The ICRC and the Red Cross Movement; Annex B. The ICRC and Selected Private Relief Agencies; Annex C. The ICRC: One of the Big Four Relief Agencies; Annex D. The ICRC and Selected Advocacy Groups; Annex E. The ICRC Organizational Chart; Bibliography.

'David Forsythe's study unlocks many of the mysteries about the International Committee of the Red Cross. Based on previously unexploited sources, he provides a critical yet respectful analysis of this most important humanitarian organisation.' William A. Schabas, Director, Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland, Galway